At the meeting (Photo: VNA) The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Bui ThanhSon and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs andInternational Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in the framework of the latter's ongoing official visit to Vietnam.
In his remarks at the meeting, FM Son expressed his delight at the fruitful development of the traditional friendship and comprehensivecooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, saying that stakeholders in the two countries have coordinated to successfully organise important events and commemorative activities in the Vietnam - CambodiaFriendship Year 2022. The events have contributed to further tightening the bilateral relations,and raising awareness of people of the traditional friendship between the two countries, he said.
For his part, Prak Sokhonn said bilateral cooperation mechanisms and cooperationbetween ministries, sectors and localities of th two countries have been strengthened and proven effective.
He added that the meeting offered an opportunity for the two sides to discusshow to further improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation at regionaland international forums.
The two sides discussed cooperation outcomes amongministries and sectors in recent times across all fields of politics-diplomacy,defence, security, border control, economy, trade, investment, transport,education-training, culture, sports, tourism, health care, and justice.
They shared pleasure at the two sides' close coordination in successfully organising a high-level meetingbetween the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Cambodian People'sParty on February 18, 2023; the official visits of Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Cambodia in2022; as well as other activities to mark the 55th founding anniversaryof the diplomatic ties.
Defence-security cooperation has become an increasinglyimportant pillar, while economic cooperation has been also a highlight in bilateralrelations in recent years. Last year, two-way trade hit 10.57 billion USD, upnearly 11% year-on-year. Vietnam is Cambodia's third largest trade partner inASEAN. Vietnam has so far 205 valid investment projects worth 2.94 billion USD inCambodia, ranking first in ASEAN and among the five biggest foreign investors in Cambodia.
The two sides agreed to continue effectively implementing signedagreements; strengthening security and defence cooperation; workingtogether to boost economic connectivity and deal with difficulties facingbusinesses of both countries; and maintaining the stable growth of bilateraltrade and investment.
They also concurred to step up partnerships intransport, tourism, agro-forestry-fisheries, telecommunications and informationtechnology, labour, natural resources and environment, whilst promotingcooperation among localities and within the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV)Development Triangle. They agreed to work closely in searching for, collecting and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese soldiers whofell down in Cambodia during wartime.
On behalf of the two governments, FM Son and Sokhonn signed the meeting's minutes. The 21st meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held in Cambodia in 2024./.
VNA
